Have you seen the new Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich at Carl's Jr.? It's not breaded or fried, so it looks like a good choice. Do you think it's a smart lunch option? Would skipping the tartar sauce make a big difference in the stats?

Fishing for Answers

Dear Fishing for Answers,

Good questions! Even when a menu item looks innocent, it can be shockingly high in calories and/or fat. (See the shockers in this email and yesterday's restaurant-meal makeover for proof!) The stats on this sandwich aren't awful, but they're not particularly great either -- 420 calories and 15g fat (PointsPlus® value 11*). After a little investigating, we found out that the fish fillet itself has just 150 calories and 6g fat (PointsPlus® value 4*). Skip the tartar sauce, and your sandwich is down to around 370 calories and 10g fat (PointsPlus® value 10*). Better! If you wanna save even more, ask them to "Low Carb It." They'll swap out the honey-wheat bun for a lettuce wrap, dropping your total down to around 170 calories and 7g fat (PointsPlus® value 4*). Wow! THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

In general, the easiest way to remove unnecessary calories and fat from a fast-food meal is to ditch the creamy condiments. For example, bypassing the mayo and special sauce on the standard Carl's Jr. Turkey Burger brings it down from 500 calories and 22g fat (PointsPlus® value 13*) to 380 calories and 11g fat (PointsPlus® value 10*). Low Carb It, and you're down to about 180 calories and 8g fat (PointsPlus® value 5*). So easy, and a great way to enjoy better-for-you fast food.

P.S. Carl's Jr.'s sister store, Hardee's, has variations on its menu and ingredients, so the nutritionals do slightly differ. But you get the idea!

Hi Hungry Girl,

I know we're all supposed to drink six to eight glasses of water a day, but I have a really tough time sticking to it! Any ideas to help me get my recommended H2O without adding any sweetener to my water?

Dehydrated Dina

Hi DD,

For a lot of people, chugging 64 ounces of water every day can be a real chore. But your body NEEDS water. Plus, water can help you feel fuller, which can lead to consuming fewer calories. Here are a few HG tips 'n tricks to help you get your daily fill of H2O!

Add a splash of citrus. If you want to perk up your water, squeeze some lemon or lime juice into your glass. It'll add a light touch of flavor, and it's refreshing. To save time and be prepared, grab a big pitcher of water in the morning, and squeeze in some wedges of lemon and lime. You'll have citrusy hydration to last you all day long. Or buy a pitcher with a built-in compartment for fruit. Also, check out True Lemon and True Grapefruit. They're unsweetened crystallized citrus products that are calorie-free. Good stuff!

Get sparkly. If you find regular water boring, try some with bubbles. Sparkling water ROCKS! There are even some products on the market that allow you to create your own sparkling water at home. Look for these at places like Bed Bath & Beyond. Citrus is great in fizzy water, by the way...

Change up the temperature. There's no rule that says your H2O has to be ice cold. Try having hot water with lemon -- I love this! Even room-temp water can be a nice switch (it's how I drink mine!), and a lot of people find it easier to down than ice water.

Space it out. Instead of panicking at 3 p.m. and trying to chug a gallon of water all at once, set mini goals throughout the day. Drink a glass of water when you wake up, one before and after each meal, and one more before you head to bed. That adds up to eight glasses of water, no problemo.

Hope this helps you get your daily dose of H2O!

For links in this email, please go to:
http://www.hungry-girl.com/askhg/show/2572
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CHEW ON THIS:
Did you know that today, March 20th, is National Ravioli Day? We're taking the opportunity to issue a friendly reminder: Check your freezer for recalled packages of Lean Cuisine Culinary Collection Mushroom Mezzaluna Ravioli... Then make some room in your freezer for a batch of Dreamy PB Chocolate Ravioli Puffs!

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*The PointsPlus® values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus® registered trademark. For more info on the new PointsPlus® program, visit weightwatchers.com.